A Guide to Colorado’s Casinos
The state of Colorado experienced massive expansion and development thanks to the gold rush in the mid-1800s, unfortunately, when the gold rush ended, the state struggled. With historic towns and building struggling, the state government needed to do something. Thankfully, this move would improve gambling opportunities in the state for residents and tourists.
History of Gambling in Colorado
Colorado saw a massive growth explosion during the gold rush, which helped several cities grow and prosper. These included Black Hawk, Central City, and Cripple Creek. Unfortunately, when the gold rush ended, these cities that had grown so quickly, began to suffer. Historic buildings started to crumble, and things were not looking good for these once proud cities.
In a fortunate turn of events, the state government decided to pass a law that would legalize casinos in these three cities. The hope was the revenue generated by these casinos would help save the cities and grow the economy. The first casino opened its doors in 1991 and offered gamblers a selection of slot machines, live poker, video poker and a small selection of table games. The law only allowed table games that used cards, so while Blackjack was allowed, games like Roulette and Craps were not offered.
However, there was an even bigger hurdle of gamblers from Colorado to overcome. The maximum bet allowed in the casinos was just $5, which was considerably smaller than what early online casinos were allowing. Because of the low betting limit and limited selection of games, the casinos were struggling to compete. Fortunately, in 2009, the government allowed casinos to raise the betting limit to $100 and begin operating 24-hours a day.
Top Colorado Casinos
| Casino | Games | Other Features | Contact |
|
Ameristar Casino Black Hawk
|
1250+ Slots 40 Table Games 22 Poker Tables |
Hotel Spa Live Entertainment Restaurants Bars |
111 Richman Street, Black Hawk, CO 80422 720-946-4000 |
|
Double Eagle Hotel & Casino
|
500 Slots Table games |
Restaurants Hotel
|
442 E. Bennett Ave Cripple Creek, CO 80813, 719-689-5000
|
|
Century Casino
|
Slots Table Games |
Hotel Bars Restaurants |
102 Main Street, Central City, CO 80427 1-303-582-5050 |
|
Sky Ute Casino Resort
|
Slots Table Games Poker Tables |
Hotel Mini Golf Spa Restaurants
|
14324 US State Highway 172, North Ignacia, CO 81137 970-563-7777 |
|
Isle Casino & Hotel
|
1100 Slots 25 Table Games 9 Poker Tables |
Restaurants Hotel
|
401 Main Street, Black Hawk, CO 80422 1-800-522-4700 |
Casinos in Colorado
Today, there are around 40 casinos operating in the state of Colorado. The vast majority of these are located in the three historic cities, while there are a few other casinos operating in Native American reservations. This gives the five million residents of the state plenty of choice when choosing their next casino.
Be advised, though; smoking is banned in all of the non-Native American casinos, so if you like to smoke while gambling, the Native American offerings will be a better choice.
Online Gambling in Colorado
At this time, it does not look like the Colorado state government has any plans to legalize online gambling. However, the good news is that Colorado does not have any laws the forbid online gambling either. So, while the government is not regulating online casinos, or licensing them to operate, residents of Colorado can enjoy plenty of online casinos.
Gambling in Colorado – Going Forward
The state government does not seem to have gambling as one of its top priorities at this moment. However, with gambling allowed and the industry doing well, we’d expect to see it continue to grow and be supported. There are regularly new casinos being built in the three cities, and others are constantly being renovated. With a wide variety of land-based casinos to choose from, as well as a wealth of online casinos, residents of Colorado are well catered for in terms of gambling choices.
Gambling Resources Colorado
Colorado Department of Revenue – Division of Gambling
The state of Colorado is ready to help anyone affected by gambling addiction. The website offers help and information, as well as some self-help guides. Find out more here.
Colorado Gamblers Anonymous
If you or someone you know is struggling with a gambling addiction, Colorado Gamblers Anonymous is available to help. This group provides gambling addicts with free meetings in many parts of the state and can help turn someone’s life around. Click here to learn more.
Problem Gambling Coalition of Colorado
This group aims to increase awareness about problem gambling, as well as encourage research and education on the subject of gambling addiction. To find out more, visit their website here.